Fran Faust Slade, 68, a native of Pennsylvania and resident of Fairhope, died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010.
She obtained her real estate license June 13, 1983. She became an agent with Irvine Company and Starke Irvine was her Broker. She had previously worked as a legal secretary so she really was ready to get busy serving her customers and clients. She became involved with the Baldwin County Association early in her career. She later married Ken Slade who passed away a few months ago. She served on numerous real estate committees, as State Director, Sec/.Treasurer, Vice-President and as President in 2001. She was honored as The REALTOR® of The Year in 1996, the highest award a member can receive from the local Association. She didn’t abandon the association but continued to serve for many more years. She worked as Chairman of the forms committee for over four years putting together the new Association legal forms. She was also instrumental in establishing the guidelines for the REALTOR® Hall of Fame that recognizes members who have served over a long period of time for their knowledge, generosity, experience and especially the gift of their time to the Association.
She has been a member of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce since 1989. In addition, Faust, Ken Slade, Bob Clark, Ann Dent and Nancy Hoy started the No-Holds-Barred group in 1989, which still is together and meets every Friday night for cocktails and delightful conversation (gossip, that is).
She served on the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2002-2005. She served on the Arts & Crafts committee for many years and served as chairman in 1997, 2000 and co-chaired with Elizabeth Stone, Larry and Jackie Pate in 2007. She was honored with the Chamber’s Bull Dog Award in 1997 and Community Leader Award in 2001.
She was also involved with the Art Center when they created the Pelicans. Fran started the F-Troop, the Logistic Committee for the Arts & Crafts Festival. They were many of her No-Holds-Barred group and other friends. They wore special shirts and hats and were the muscle and trouble shooters of the festival. Many still volunteer. She also perfected the layout of the booths in the streets. She was also chairman of the festival in 1994.
She had an untiring dedication to her family, friends, the Association and her community. Along the way, she made a host of friends who have benefited from her love of life.
She was preceded in death by her father, Guy Willis Hicks; mother, Bonnie Annie Laurie Fondren Hicks; and her husband, Charles Kenneth Slade Jr.
Survivors include three daughters, Andrea Marye Holloway of Fairhope and Malory Lea (David) LeBlanc of Warner Robins, Ga.; son, Teddy Joe (Jennifer) Faust Jr. of Fairhope; grandchildren, Amanda Nicole LeBlanc, Kari McIlrath, Chelsea LeBlanc, Jillian Marye Holloway, Gabriel LeBlanc, Hudson Faust Holloway and Elizabeth Rebecca Faust; great-grandson, Nathan McIlrath; three sisters, Jaca Lynn Hicks McLaren, Donna Hicks Stewart; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Fairhope Yacht Club.
The family requests memorial donations be made to C.O.P.A., c/o Eastern Shore Art Center, 401 Oak St., Fairhope, AL 36532; copa@esartcenter.com.
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Fairhope.
